The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-02-19
Mackenzie. they had been completely won

Mackenzie, they had been completely won
over by Percy, and were watching, with
womanly interest, the progress of what they
looked upon as a very pretty love- story.
Every day Percy rode over. AT times the
Colonel was with him; sometimes he was
alone He made himself so useful and
agreeable, that Mrs. Mackenzie frequently
wished that he had been son of her own.
MY BOYS do not take SO much trouble
about u.s." she said to Veronica, who an
swered, with the amused smile which either
the sight of Percy Winstanlev or the men :
ton of his name always brought to her face,
that he was a delightful young fellow, and
that she did not wonder everybody liked
him. Il believe il Is a real pleasure to him
to be useful, she said.
Acting on this view of his character, she
did not hesitate, now she was tied 10 her
couch, to ask him to do a number of little
services for her. He lode almost daily to
the nearest town to order books for her. or
to match her woods, or else to take notes
and messages TO the houses Of those whose
croquet or lawn-tennis parties she had
promised, before her accident, to attend.
Wren she seemed to suffer more
than ordinarily from the confinement
10 the house, he consulted with Mrs. Mac
kenZie and Janet to devise amusement
his sister and his sisters governess, and
left them at Deep Deane for the whole day;
and Veronica was so delighted with their
society that Mrs. Mackenzie, hearing how
full Castle Ettrick was, sent an entreaty TO
Lady Flora that the young girls might stay
with her for a few days.
The request was granted. of course.
Lady Flora would have refused nothing to
her dear Mrs. Mackenzie in those days.
Colonel Lyndon, as the least fully occupied
person in the house-he did not seem TO
care for shooting asked to escort Miss
Morrison and her pupil across the moor;
and late on one of the beautiful August
afternoons they were received i'll the pretty
hop covered yeranda, where, when the
weather was fine, Neronicas couch was gen.
orally drawn.
They were met with the warmest of well
comes. This is what l have been longing
for" said Veronica, holding out one hand
YOU two all to myself Colonel Lyndon,
We have TO thank you for it. "
~Ohi no, nc" answered the Colonel.
Honor where honor is duel 1t was Cap
tain Winstanley's doing throughout.
"Ah. welll' said Veronica, you must
thank him from me, and Lady Flora, too.
We are not to have any lessons, you know,
while they are here-only fun. What do
you say, Milly?'
II say fun" said the child, gayly.
very well. But Colonel Lyndon must
come soon. and see how We manage our
fun" said Janet.
oh yes, yes. Ask him, Lefty. He
will do anything for you," cried Milly,
"ATillyl Milly!' said Lefty reprovingly.
But it's true; isn't it?n she persisted,
looking at the Colonel.
am afraid am lady's man, Milly,'
he answered. Il must say SO, you know,
for am in terrible minority here. One
wo-three-four-fye ladies, and only
one poor unfortunate man."
But very well able to hold his own,
said Mrs. Mackenzie.
Thank YOU, Mrs. Mackenzie" said the
Colonel. You are an old friend, and par
tial. But think | must run away while
my reputation lasts"
Veronica begged that he would come
again soon. She spoke much less readily
than usual, and pink flush tinged her face,
which bore traces of the pain through which
she had recently passed. There was some
thing about her that touched the Colonel,
awakening the sympathetic chords of his
nature. aud he answered gently that if it
would be any pleasure to her he would GER
tainly ride over ON the following day.
That night. in the smoking room of Cas-
tie Ettrick, after Mr.. Winstanley and his
guests had gone 10 bed, Percy poured out
his heart to Colonel Lyndon.
Il must do something" he said, "or shall
go crazed. | can't stand it any longer"
But why should your" asked the Colo
mel. If | were you-
If you were /, and you, the case would
l., i, ~, II <N1t-l I'll Il IL
to myself over and over again that / am
ridiculous. | know how she looks upon
me. l am boy in her eyes. She lets me
do things for her because she is good-na-
tured. | amuse her sometimes, and she is
grateful TO me for il. But anything fur
ther-oh. no. l don't deceive myself
Il think you are a little over sure, Per-
CIV, SAID the Colonel.
You think? / wonder if YOU have any
reason for it. They say outsiders see most
of the game. If / thought-can't you see
my difficulty" he broke off hurliedly. Il
love her for herself because because
cant help it, But l might be misunder-
stood. She might mistake me. She might
class me with the heaps upon heaps OF fell
lows who have asked her. and will ask
her, for her money. If she did," said
poor Percy, with something like a sob in
his throat, Il believe l should go mad"
SO poor Percy raved, and the Colonel,
who believed that he was tormenting him
self III vain, listened with kindly CLEAN
in his gray eyes, and, when the tale was
told, gave him an abundance of kind en-
couragement.
Il will tell you what We must do he
said finally. Ride over with me to-mor-
row. Janet is on your side, know, and
SO is Letty-AIiss Morrison, l mean.
will give them hint, and We will try to ar
range to have you left alone with Miss
Browne for few moments. Then, if you
don't plead your own cause"
I'm afraid | have no cause to plead. |
can only throw myself on her compassion, >
said Percy dejectedly.
ITO BE CONTINUED